Shoe-lace fastener



(No Model.)

A. LIZOTTE. SHOE LACE FASTENER.

Patented ott. 18, 1892.

INVENTEI WTNESSE'S:

News PETERS co., mom-mun, WASHINQTDN. u c.

ATENT l 'F-FIQE.

ALBERT LIZOTTE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,438, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed May 1892. Serial No. 432,465. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT LIZOTTE, of Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Shoe- Laces, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to means for fastening the laces of boots and shoes without tying.

It is the object of the invention to provide means which may be adjustably secured to the laces and connected with a slotted or bifurcated stud attached to the flies of the boot or shoe.

To this end the invention consists of a metallic swell or enlargement provided with an eye or hole through which the laces may be threaded, and a set-screw having a longitudinal opening to receive the lace and tapped into the swell and constructed and arranged so as to adapt it to be screwed down upon the lace and clamp it in the swell, which latter device is adapted to be caught in the slot or bifurcation of a stud secured to the fly, and thus hold the lace from running back or becoming unloosed, all as is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case maybe, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure l is a side view of so much of a shoe as is necessary to show in order to explain the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form, the holding-stud being represented as in section.

In the drawings, a designates the fly of a boot or shoe, and b are the laces for drawing and holding the flies together in a common way. The laces b may be passed through eyelets e or around lacing studs or hooks d, or both. At the point on the fly where theuppermost lacingstud is usually attached, Isecure by riveting or in any other suitable way a slotted or bifurcated stud e. I then provide a swell or enlargement f, having a hole 9 therethrough of sufficient size to admit the laces and tap into the swell a thumb-screw h of such form and construction as adapts it to be screwed down upon thelace and clamp and hold it in the swell f. I provide the thumbscrew it with a hole passing longitudinally therethrough, and thread the lace through both the swell and screw, as shown. a

Where the lace is passed through both swell and screw I may make the hole in the swell of conical or other form, so as that the screw may be adapted to be turned down thereagainst to clamp it in the swell, and in any case I may, though not necessarily, employa kind of washer or followerc' to bear upon the lace, and upon which the screw may act, as shown.

The exterior of the swell may be of tapering or frusto-conical form, and the slotin the holding-stud of similar form, as shown in Fig. 3, or the swell may be cylindrical in form and the slot in the holding-stud of corresponding shape, as represented in Fig. 4. In the latter case the swell may be provided with an offset or shoulder j to bear against the stud and prevent it from slipping therethrough. The slot may be formed in the top of the stud, as shown in Fig. 1, though in most cases I may prefer to form the slot or bifurcation in the side.

The swell will in use be adjusted on the lace at a point where when caught in the notch or slot of the stud it will hold the shoe laced sufficiently tight.

The means of adjusting the swell upon the lace is an important feature of the invention, since the swell can readily be moved on the lace from time to time to suit convenience and be fixed in position with the greatest nicety.

It is to be noted that the invention may be used for fastening the ends of strings of any kindas for example, the fastening of laces of gloves, &c.

It is obvious that changes'may be made in the details of the form and arrangement of parts comprising my improvement without departing from the nature or spirit of the in.- vention.

I claim 1. A lace-holder comprising a slotted holding-stud, a swell having a longitudinal opening adapted to receive the lace, and a setscrewed down upon the said washer to clamp the lace, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of 'April, A. D. 1892.

ALBERT LIZOTTE.

\Vitnesses:

ARTHUR W. CROSSLEY, A. D. GROVER. 

